HHC Motorsport has announced a new multi-year programme with McLaren ahead of this season’s British GT Championship.
The Harrogate-based squad, which won 2017’s Drivers’ and Teams’ titles with Ginetta, will enter two 570S GT4s after becoming an official McLaren Customer Racing team.
2018 championship contender Callum Pointon remains with HHC for a second British GT4 campaign after claiming one victory en route to fourth in last year’s standings.
He teams-up with Dean Macdonald whose part-season with Century Motorsport helped Jack Mitchell beat Pointon to the GT4 Drivers’ crown at the final round. His debut British GT campaign, in 2017, was also spent at the wheel of a McLaren.
HHC’s official customer status means both drivers are fighting for a place on the manufacturer’s end-of-season shootout to join 2020’s McLaren Driver Development Programme, an initiative designed to develop the next generation of McLaren factory drivers.
McLaren Customer Racing’s sporting management will closely observe the HHC drivers this season and provide advice at British GT rounds.
And Pointon, in particular, is eager to benefit from HHC’s new link with a manufacturer of McLaren’s standing.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to fight for the British GT4 title in 2019 and to enhance my career prospects by linking up with McLaren,” he said. “I have enjoyed a great relationship with HHC Motorsport – we won the Ginetta Supercup title together in 2017 – and to be in at the start of this exciting new project is a real privilege. I am sure we can add more silverware this season.”
Dean Macdonald added: “I’m really happy to be joining HHC for this season. The team has a great pedigree and has been competitive in everything so far. I’m looking forward to driving the McLaren 570S again. I drove the McLaren in 2017 and really enjoyed the car, and pairing up with Callum Pointon will be great as I think we will make a really strong combination. I’m really looking forward to start testing as soon as possible.”
Team boss Charlie Kemp believes this new partnership is, in part, recognition of HHC’s achievements in recent years.
“We are delighted to enter a new phase in the life of HHC Motorsport and very excited to enter into a new partnership with McLaren as a Customer Racing team,” he said. “The support from McLaren thus far has been very impressive and we are looking forward to working with McLaren during the season and enhancing that relationship with race wins. This is going to be a long-term partnership between HHC and McLaren so this is year one of a multi-year relationship.
“McLaren Customer Racing is entering its first full season of competition and wants young, ambitious and talented teams to race its products. I am very proud that HHC Motorsport fits those criteria and our successes in other championships has been recognised by McLaren.
“McLaren is a name with tremendous history, not just in Formula 1 but with success in CanAm sports car racing and, of course, GT racing with its outright Le Mans win in 1995. To be part of that heritage is a real privilege and we look forward to adding to the GT success of McLaren during 2019.”
Dan Walmsley, Motorsport Director, McLaren Automotive Ltd, said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome HHC Motorsport as the latest GT4 team in the McLaren Customer Racing family, and further entries on to the British GT grid. HHC Motorsport has a proven track record of developing young talent in to winners and, as an up-and-coming team, has enjoyed significant success on track, not least taking the British GT Championship in 2017.
“With Dean and Callum now confirmed to race the 570S GT4 – which is also a proven race winner in the British GT Championship - the team has a really exciting line-up and is in a very strong position to build on its reputation. It is going to be great to watch the team challenging for race wins against one of the world’s most competitive GT4 grids.”
HHC will announce its second driver line-up in due course.
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of this season’s British GT Championship on April 20 & 22, while
Meanwhile, Donington’s annual pre-season media day offers the first opportunity to see cars and drivers together on March 5. Public can attend for free.